asked the Minister of Health for what reason he has issued instructions to his Regional Housing Officers to supplement, by delegation of the power to requisition, the provisions of the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act, 1946; and whether he will publish these instructions.

No such instructions have been issued.

Is the Minister aware that his own regional officer has stated in a letter, of which I will give him a copy, that such instructions have been issued, and that that is why I ask this Question, because there seems to be some conflict on this matter?

Steps have been taken in individual cases, but no general instructions have been issued.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will increase the three months period of security of tenure guaranteed to a tenant after he has brought his grievance before a rent tribunal.

This would require legislation of which there is no early prospect.

Is the Minister aware that the tribunals served a good purpose in the early days; that owing to the fact that so many evictions were being applied for by landlords, they are holding back at the present time; and that in cities like Birmingham the difficulty is that many thousands of evictions are taking place as a result?

Yes, but a very large number of references are still made to the tribunals, which is evidence of the fact that they are still of very considerable value. I have always said that it is undesirable to tie tenant and landlord for too long a period, otherwise it means that sufficient furnished accommodation would not be made available.

Is the Minister aware that very strong feeling exists in the country on this subject, and that in some parts of the country the existing regulations actually defeat the whole purpose for which these tribunals were set up?

I am aware that in some instances abuse does take place, and I am seriously considering how it can be dealt with. As I explained earlier, in reply to a previous Question, requisitioning of premises is sometimes used.

Could the Minister be a little more specific when he says that legislation is required, that there is no prospect of legislation, yet he is seriously considering how to deal with this problem?

I have already said, in answer to a previous Question, that in some instances, where the abuse is gross, requisitioning powers have been used.

Would the Minister bear in mind, if and when this Act calls for amendment, that there are many other matters which experience shows call for amendment; and would he also bear in mind the adverse effect on the relationship of landlord and tenant occasioned in cases where the local authority makes a reference without the initiative or, indeed, against the will of the tenant concerned?

That is another matter.

asked the Minister of Health how many cottages for farm workers are being erected in Cheshire during 1948; and what progress is being made.

I regret that information in this form is not available. Tenants are not chosen until houses are near completion.

Does the Minister realise that his answer will give great disappointment in Cheshire; and will he try to give this information, so that farmers can look ahead and plan their farming?

As I say, it is not possible for me to say how many houses are set aside for agricultural workers until rural authorities themselves have awarded the tenancies. I am not a clairvoyant.

asked the Minister of Health why subsidies to figures acceptable to local authorities for nontraditional houses have increased from about £6 million in 1947–48 to about £17 million for this year; and before implementing this policy, will he consider saving this cost by building brick houses for which ample supplies of labour, bricks, cement and timber are now available.

The capital grant is restricted by statute to houses in schemes approved before 31st December, 1947. No programmes for non-traditional houses approved since that date will, therefore, qualify for grant. The total cost of the capital grants is estimated at £51½ million for 1947–48, and at £13,600,000 for 1948–49.. The grant is payable on the completion of the houses, and the increase in the estimates is due to the fact that more of these houses are now being completed than in 1947.

Is the Minister aware that his policy of concentrating all production on non-traditional houses, which can only be temporary houses, is ruining the building industry for traditional houses which are of a permanent character?

The hon. Member is wrong in both respects.

No, he is not.

Most of the non-traditional houses are permanent. With regard to the second part of the Question, these houses were put in hand whilst the traditional industry was being built up. Now that it has been built up, further approval of extra grants for non-traditional houses has ceased.

asked the Minister of Health what estimate he has made of the number of houses required to give a separate dwelling to each family; and how far the building programme has advanced in respect to it.

As has been stated on several occasions, the last Government and this Government agreed, in 1945, that 750,000 new dwellings are needed to give a separate home to every family in the country. The progress made up to 29th February last is shown in the monthly housing return issued last week.

Does my right hon. Friend think that he may reach that target of 750,000 this year?

I confidently expect that the first target will be reached by the end of the year, but I am not satisfied that 750,000 is itself a fully reliable figure. Towards the end of the year, I hope that the local authorities will comb their lists so that we have a realistic picture of what the needs will be.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the figures he has given take full account of the need to provide new houses for people living in sadly overcrowded conditions, and whether, in framing these estimates, he took into account the requirements of the 1936 Act before people can be regarded as living under overcrowded conditions?

We inherited this figure, as well as this problem, from the previous Government. We are hoping to reduce the figure at the end of the year, when it will be possible for us to appreciate what the situation may he. Very substantial relief is being given each month.

Can the Minister say whether the confidence he has expressed is of the same convincing quality as that which he expressed when introducing the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act, 1945, when he gave the end of 1947 as his date for the expectation of the solution of the housing problem?

The hon. Member's recollection is, as usual, grossly inaccurate.

Does not the Minister think that the time has come when it is possible to take some further steps towards reconditioning rural properties?

Reconditioning of rural houses must still take second place to the provision of new houses, but the matter of reconditioning is, of course, under consideration. I think hon. Members opposite will agree that it is still necessary to use all the resources of the rural areas to provide new accommodation.

Is the Minister aware of the very adverse effect that the increased interest rate is going to have on local authorities in the building of houses?

There is no evidence whatever that the increased interest rate has prevented the building of a single house.

Will my right hon. Friend say whether the total of 750,000 estimated by the Caretaker Government of 1945 includes the 500,000 Portal houses promised, and how many Portal houses have been delivered?

I would hesitate at this stage to reflect upon that melancholy history.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the serious shortage of accommodation for maternity cases in the Amersham area, intensified by the closing of the Home at Shardloes; and whether measures are being taken to relieve the situation.

Yes, Sir. I am consulting with the Regional Hospital Board and the County Council on the matter.

Would the right hon. Gentleman kindly regard this matter as very urgent, because since the closing of Shardloes the position has become almost desperate?

It is always an urgent matter when a maternity home closes down because of lack of staff, and I invite the co-operation of everybody in order to try to get staffs brought up to the necessary strength.

asked the Minister of Health what steps is he taking to increase the facilities for the training of medical and dental students; and is it his intention to encourage the setting up of new medical and dental schools.

I have invited the universities and medical and dental schools, as the responsible authorities, to consider the relevant recommendations of the Goodenough and Teviot Committees. Facilities are being extended within the limits of the available resources.

Would the right hon. Gentleman ask the university colleges and technical colleges that are able to set up technical schools also to consider the reports, and to make recommendations to him?

Only where there are university facilities in the locality.

asked the Minister of Health how many areas in the British Isles have shown an increase in the mortality rate for children under one year of age for 1947 over 1946.

I regret that this information is not yet available. The figures are expected soon after the middle of the year.

Can the Minister say from any preliminary figures he has seen whether the increase of 9.2 at Dumbarton Burghs, which has been described as "alarming," will be general throughout the country?

I have seen no such figure, and it would be very unwise to alarm anyone by giving such provisional figures.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a number of permanent residents and holiday campers at Althorne, Essex, who have been accustomed for many years, on payment to the railway company of 5s. a year, to obtain their supply of water from a tap at Althorne station, have been notified that this facility is to end on 24th April; and if he will take steps to ensure that an adequate supply of water is made available to them by that date.

I am informed that the Maldon Rural District Council are arranging for a supply of water to be continued to the permanent residents after that date. As regards the holiday campers, I am in communication with the Council, and will inform my hon. Friend of the result of my inquiries.

Since it is unlikely that any satisfactory main water supply can be laid on at this particular site, does my right hon. Friend envisage a water cart, or something like that, as a satisfactory semi-permanent solution; or would he consider approaching the British Railways and asking them to continue or to improve the present arrangement?

I shall not approach the railway until it becomes necessary.

asked the Minister of Health why it is proposed to increase the clerical staff of the superannuation division of his Department from 30 to 166; and whether, in planning the new work involved, he has sought and accepted the advice of the Organisation and Methods Division of the Treasury.

This increased staff is needed to administer the superannuation scheme for the large body of staff to be transferred when the National Health Service comes into operation next July. In planning this new work the advice of the Organisation and Methods Division of the Treasury has been taken.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that he has accepted the optical employees as fit and proper persons to be registered as contractors, and that they have Whitley Council representation, he will reconsider the decision excluding employee pharmacists in retail practice from representation on the Whitley Council created for pharmacists.

No, Sir. It would not be apppropriate to accord representation on the Whitley Councils being set up for persons engaged in the National Health Service to persons who are not in contract with, or directly employed by, any of the bodies constituted under the Act.

Since the operation of the National Health Service Act will, presumably, depend on many hundreds of registered medical pharmacists who are employed by Co-operative Societies, and so on, and since the Minister has already accorded optical employees such recognition, does he not think it fair and desirable in the national interests that pharmacist employees should be given the same degree of recognition?

Persons in the bodies referred to by my hon. Friend already have their own appropriate organisations. It is not proper to give representation on the Whitley Council to persons only indirectly employed.

asked the Minister of Health in what circumstances, after 5th July, 1948, old age pensioners and police pensioners will be entitled to free medical attention.

asked the Minister of Education if, in view of the fact that war service in the second war as well as the period for re-training or continued training counts for pension, he will make a similar concession to ex-Service teachers of the first war.

The provisions relating to training college students who undertook war service during the 1914–18 war were made many years ago after full consultation with the representatives of teachers and their employers. I am afraid the subject cannot be reopened at this date.

Where an enlightened view and more generous action have led to a concession being made to men after the second war, is it not both expedient and just to try and translate it into effect for men of the first war, particularly as it would cost very little?

The suggestion has been made that the agreement entered into at that time was much better than the agreement entered into after the last war.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is now able to make a statement as to the adjustment of grants under the further education and training scheme for ex-Service men and women, with particular reference to the difficulties of those students who are at Dublin universities.

My Department have considered, in consultation with the other award-making Departments, the position of students holding awards at Dublin universities, in view of the specially high cost of living in Dublin. In the circumstances, we have decided to make temporary adjustments in the grants to these students pending the general review of the standard maintenance figures, which will take place next year in consultation with universities generally.

When will these adjustments be made, and can they in any sense be retrospective, because the students have had this burden for a year or more?

I will go into that question.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that the ending of the scholastic year in the summer term is a great deterrent to the staggering of holidays; and whether he will take steps to bring about an alteration.

No, Sir. The fixing of the school holidays is a matter for the local education authorities and the authorities of the individual schools. They are aware of the need for fitting these holidays so far as possible to those agreed for local industries.

Will the Minister draw the attention of the local education authorities to the custom in Ireland where, I believe, the summer term ends in or about June, thereby meeting to some extent the point put forward by my hon. Friend?

All the different arrangements which are made in various parts of the country have been brought to their notice and steps are being taken whereby an alteration will take place in one of the examinations in a year or two, when it will be easier to accommodate this matter.

asked the Minister of Education what progress is being made in the provision of accommodation for training backward children in the northwestern area of Middlesex.

There are six special schools for the education of backward children in Middlesex, and one other is proposed. The training of backward children who have been reported as ineducable does not fall within the functions of the local education authority.

But there are still a number of children who are educable who are on the waiting list and are unable to be taken in at the present time. Will my right hon. Friend see whether he can speed up the conversion of this other school in respect of which he promised, in June, 1947, that he would give some assistance?

I will look into that but it is still on the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many British judges and civil servants have been compulsorily retired from service in India consequent on the passing of the Government of India Act; what were their respective grades and ages; what are the form and amounts, respectively, of compensation which will be made to them for loss of office or transfer of function; and when will these amounts be paid.

No British judges not members of the Indian Civil Service have yet been compulsorily retired as a result of the passing of the Indian Independence Act. The number of British civil servants who have so far claimed compensation or resettlement grant under Command Paper 7116 for the compulsory termination of their appointments as a result of that Act is 778 and of these 732 have already been paid.

The officers concerned include members of all the Secretary of State's Services and cover the various grades of those Services. Their ages range from 27 to 55 in the case of the Indian Civil Service and from 25 to 52 in the case of the other Services. The scales of compensation admissible to them are set out in Table I of the Command Paper.

Does that answer cover the case of judges who retired under Section 10 of the Indian Independence Act, 1947, and, if so, having regard to the long time that has elapsed since the judges left India and Pakistan, can my hon. Friend say what steps are being taken to implement the rights given to the judges by Section To (2, b)?

I would like notice of so detailed a question as that.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a certain amount of anxiety about this matter? There are certain judges and others who have retired, not compulsorily, but owing to the conditions that now prevail, and does not he agree that it is very desirable that satisfactory arrangements should be made for these particular individuals?

Yes, Sir, I quite recognise that there is anxiety on this matter. There is the difficult problem of people retiring under different conditions.

Has the Minister based his reply to my original Question on the word "compulsorily" in the Question, and does his reply apply to those judges who exercise their option to retire under Section 10?

I based my answer to the Question on the terms of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many of the British judges and civil servants compulsorily retired from service in India consequent on the passing of the Government of India Act have been or will be found other work in Government service in other parts of the British Commonwealth of Nations or Colonies; what type of work they have been or will be so found respectively; and what are their respective age groups.

The number of British civil servants compulsorily retired as a result of the Indian Independence Act, to which I presume that my hon. and learned Friend intended to refer, who are known so far to have found further employment in Government service in other parts of the British Commonwealth and Colonies is 226. The majority of these officers are employed in the various branches of the Home, Foreign and Colonial Services. Their ages range between 21–60.

It is not possible to state how many more will eventually secure employment of the kind referred to, but there is every reason to think that a substantial number will do so.

Can the Minister say what provision is being made for the judges who have so retired, pending the finding of new appointments for them?

I do not think that any provision has been made, pending the finding of new employment for them.

Will my hon. Friend proceed with caution in this matter so far as the placing of these officers in the Colonies is concerned, because it does not necessarily follow that long training in Indian administration will fit them for the type of Colonial work we want to see?

Naturally, we will not put people into work for which they are not properly equipped.

If, as stated by the Minister just now, no provision is being made for these judges who have retired, would it not be right and just that some provision should be made for them pending the finding of new appointments for them?

Yes, I can see the point of that. Perhaps my hon. Friend would put down a specific Question on that matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what arrangements have been made with the respective Dominion Governments for the care of British civil and military cemeteries in India and Pakistan.

I would refer my hon. Friend. to the reply given on 5th February to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans). Since 1st April, and pending completion of more permanent arrangements, British civil and military cemeteries in India and Pakistan, with the exception of war graves which remain the responsibility of the Imperial War Graves Commission, have been under the care of the United Kingdom High Commissioners in New Delhi and Karachi. Funds have been placed at the credit of the High Commissioners to ensure that cemeteries are maintained during this interim period.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now state the future of the Squires Gate Factory, Blackpool.

It is our intention that this factory should as far as possible continue to be used for production and every effort is being made to find a suitable occupier. As the hon. Member is aware, however, these buildings are of a special type which renders them unsuitable for ordinary industrial purposes.

Would the right hon. Gentleman give me some assurance that he really is trying to get a move on in finding somebody who would be suitable to occupy these premises, bearing in mind, first, that the factory is a Government factory, secondly, that it became clear a year ago that Vickers were going to leave this factory on the conclusion of the temporary housing programme, and, thirdly, that 3,000 men are now unemployed?

I will certainly give that assurance. As the hon. Gentleman knows, a considerable number of applicants are at present being considered, but we cannot force these applicants to go into the factory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress of the negotiations for trade agreement with Yugoslavia; if he will circulate in HANSARD an outline of the discussions that have taken place so far, indicating the causes of the long delay in reaching a settlement; and if he will renew his efforts to secure agreement as speedily as possible.

Tentative proposals for a short term agreement were submitted a month ago to the Yugoslav Delegation, who referred them to their Government. We await their reply and until it is received it would be premature to make a statement on the course of these lengthy negotiations. I may say, however, that the Yugoslays asked for guaranteed delivery dates over a very wide range of capital equipment, and made it a condi- tion of any long-term agreement that we should give such assurances for certain items of equipment within periods which are not practicable in view of the other demands on our capacity. We explained that we were not prepared to guarantee delivery dates for capital equipment and both sides accordingly agreed to discuss the possibilities of a short-term agreement of limited scope. As I have said, the matter now rests with the Yugoslav Government.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in this agreement and in others, he has made any provision for such results as flow from the agreement to be carried to a reasonable extent in British vessels?

Yes, Sir. That is usually looked after in these agreements. It was certainly so in the Russian Agreement, and if agreement is reached here, there will be full provision to look after our interests in that connection.

In this short-term agreement which the right hon. Gentleman envisages can he give an assurance that we shall not be selling capital goods in exchange for current requirements?

Yes, Sir. I can give that assurance. If there is to be a short-term agreement, it will be on die basis of goods that can be currently supplied immediately on both sides.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many film studios in this country are not in use.

The percentage of the stage space at British studios suitable for the production of first feature films which is now unoccupied is about 10 per cent. This space is distributed over three studios, one of which is partially in use.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if this figure is likely to increase or decrease, and what are the chances of getting 100 per cent. into operation?

We are keeping the position of each studio under very careful review, and I think that this percentage will shortly decrease. There is a certain degree of uncertainty because of the deadlock before the agreement was reached, and by reason of certain financial difficulties in the industry that we are trying to overcome.

Will the Minister say whether he is taking steps to prevent American film companies acquiring these empty film studios, so long as there is any prospect of any British film company acquiring them themselves?

It was a cardinal point of the recent film agreement that we should not permit American film producers in any way to interfere with the legitimate rights of British film production. If there were any such conflict, I can give to my hon. Friend the assurance he wants.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now able to state whether German prisoners may, without obtaining export licences, include small quantities of vegetable seeds in the parcels they send home; or what arrangements can be made to issue licences to them for this purpose.

At present it is still necessary for German prisoners, like other applicants, to obtain export licences, although I hope it will be possible to dispense with them for this purpose very soon. With the co-operation of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for War, I have made arrangements for German prisoners to make application for export licences through the camp commandants.

asked the Minister of Labour whether in the case of those prisoners of war who were repatriated prior to any offer being made to them to remain in this country as civilian workers, he is agreeable to allow them to return to fill jobs for which British labour cannot be found and which are important for ensuring the success of the Government's production drive.

No. Sir.

That monosyllabic answer—

Dissyllabic.

That dissyllabic answer being unsatisfactory, will my hon. Friend look at this question again? Having regard to the fact that a considerable number of these men are out of work in Germany, is there any reason why they should not be put on the same footing as ex-Italian prisoners of war who are allowed to come back?

I have replied on this question a number of times previously. I should like to emphasise again that the first obligation of this country is to the war victims who are now in Germany, and until we have given them a chance of rehabilitation in this country we ought not to try and recruit German prisoners of war to come back.

Is my hon. Friend also aware that nothing but a spirit of reconciliation will put the world to rights, and that the view which he has expressed is one from which I strongly dissent?

I am aware of that.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he has now received the report of the Russell Vick Committee; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) whether he will make a further statement on the holiday petrol allowance;

(2) whether he will now make a further statement on the savings of dollars and petrol since the abolition of the basic petrol allowance.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he now has any statement to make about the restoration of the basic petrol ration.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what dyes for colouring petrol to avoid improper use are available; what quantity would be required to colour all petrol supplied for commercial uses; and to what extent the manufacture and distribution of colour neutralisers has been investigated.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in order to give a chance to owners of cars to make their holiday preparations, is he now prepared to make a statement on the question of some basic petrol during the holiday season.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he has any statement to make about basic petrol.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has any statement to make about the return of basic petrol.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the privately owned motor craft and yachts with auxiliary engines on the Norfolk Broads and rivers will suffer deterioration if they are not able to be used this summer; and whether in order to avoid this situation and also to provide reasonable relaxation for those living and working in the areas involved, he will allow petrol to be made available for these craft during the summer months.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will take into consideration in planning for the restoration of the basic petrol ration the fact that Whitsun falls in May this year and that the Cornish riviera has an early holiday season.

My right hon. Friend proposes, with Mr. Speaker's permission, to make a statement on the subject of petrol rationing at the end of Questions.

Will the right hon. Gentleman deal specifically with the precise point in my Question?

The hon. Gentleman would not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's statement.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will consider relaxing the present rule under which no allowance of petrol is allowed for a subsidiary business where the applicant already receives the maximum allow- ance for his normal occupation, in view of the fact that this rule is operating as a handicap and deterrent to persons who are willing and able to undertake additional work and responsibility.

The scales of allowances will be under review in the course of the next few months, but I cannot hold out any hope that, in general, increased allowances for subsidiary occupations will be granted to those who are at present receiving the maximum allowance appropriate to their scale.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why commercial travellers are restricted to a maximum scale of petrol allowances irrespective of the area which they have to cover; and if he will take steps to see that their allowances are adjusted so as to conform more closely to the mileage which they are compelled to cover in the course of their employment.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Rother Valley (Mr. D. Griffiths) on 18th March.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when it is expected to reach a decision on an application for a petrol allowance dated 24th February (Divisional Reference L. 573180), followed by a telegram on 5th March and a letter on 15th March, to none of which has a reply from Acton been received.

I regret that the original papers on this case were mislaid but an allowance has now been issued.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that taxi drivers in Brighton have been informed by the police that according to new regulations they cannot travel a distance of further than five miles from Brighton; and whether he will have this instruction altered.

There has evidently been some misunderstanding. I am informed that the taxi drivers concerned were referred to the provisions of the Motor Fuel (Car Hire) Order, 1948, which permits an unrestricted radius of operation of 20 miles from the place where the taxicab is ordinarily kept, or five miles outside the area in which the taxicab is authorised to ply for hire, whichever is the greater.

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken steps to see that that matter has been put right in Brighton?

This is a matter which will be touched upon in the statement I intend to make at the end of Questions.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many petrol coupons were returned by licensed taxi drivers in Hove at the end of the last ration period; and when that was.

I regret that this information is not available.

Would it not be possible to find out? There cannot be very much involved in this. There are only 40 taxi drivers in the area.

We have information about the number of coupons returned by the taxi drivers for the whole region, but not for this area.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now make a statement on the coal/oil conversion programme.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply given to the hon. Member by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on Tuesday last during the Adjournment Debate.

That merely dealt with fuel oil. Can the right hon. Gentleman make a more comprehensive statement now?

My hon. Friend said that I would make a statement on coal-oil conversion shortly, but two days is not quite long enough.

The Question has been down for a long time.

asked the Minister of Labour, how many men and women, formerly employed in other industries in this country, have been placed in agriculture by his Department in the past year.

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

Is it not desirable to have some check on the good or ill effects of the Government's campaign to try to get more men transferred to this industry?

We have the statistics of the overall numbers that have been induced to go into the agricultural industry, but we have not the exact list of industries in which the men were previously occupied. I will see if we can give that without a great deal of unnecessary trouble.

Would the Minister circulate that figure in the OFFICIAL REPORT?